Water Rates May Increase in Palm Desert: Vote Today

Palm Desert, CA— The Coachella Valley Water District Board of Directors is scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether to raise domestic water rates and adopt a five-year rate structure plan, effective July 1.

According to district officials, the increased rates will help it recoup revenue losses resulting from the state's drought measures, losses which are expected to continue into the future with California residents and businesses asked to continue conserving water.

The district also plans to fund a $250 million capital project to treat the chemical Chromium-6 in its wells. The project would include new treatment facilities and infrastructure, as the district aims to bring its water into compliance with new state drinking water standards for Chromium-6, a carcinogen. An additional $8 million in annual operating and maintenance costs would also be needed.

Other capital infrastructure projects, including replacements, improvements and additions to infrastructure, will require $99 million to $192 million in funding over the next five years, according to a staff report. The increases would be the first for domestic water since 2010, a district official said.

The board will weigh four rate options, which vary based on how much funding is set aside for capital projects.

According to the district, the proposed rates would be re-evaluated and voted on each year by the Board of Directors, following public input.

— By City News Service. Image via Shutterstock.